Fastener



Nov. 30, 1926. 1,669,080

. J. B. FREYSINGER FASTENER Filed Feb 4 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 30, 1926. 1,609,080

J. B. FREYSINGER FASTENER Filed Feb. 4., 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. so, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. IBIYSINGER, NEW BRITAIN}, CONN EO'I'ICUT, ASSIGNOB TO NORTH l: m DD IANUI'AC'IUBING OOIPANY, 0;! NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

IAS'I'ENER.

- Application fled mm 4. was. warm. area.

This iifvention relates to fasteners of the type in which a series of clasps are engaged or released by a sin 1e continuous movement. Fasteners of t is type are employed more particularly upon shoes but they are applicable to corsets, garment plackets, belts, mail-bags, and all seams unit-ing flexible bodies.

The ob'ects of the present invention are to provi e a fastener of the stated type which may be easily produced and in which the several clasp members are not a t to become loose, to provide simple and e cient means. for arrestin the movement of the slide, and to PIOVldG a device in which the clasp members when engaged will mutually reenforce and support each other and will beefiectually held against accidental o fning. These objects, and other objects w ich will appear in the course of the following description, are attained in devices such as are il ustrated in the accompanyipg drawings, and the invention resides 1n certain novel features which will be articularly pointed out in the appended c aims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away, of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of igure 3 is a rspective view showing a form of the invention difl'ering in its details from the form shown in Figs. 1 and Figures. 4 and 5 are detail perspective views of the clasp members shown in Figure 6 is a detail perspective showing a third form of the invention;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective of a stop to limit the closing movement of the slide;

Figures 8 and 9 are details showing different applications of the stop shown in Fi re 7;

igure 10 shows another form of stop;

Figure 11 shows a bottom stop;

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show additional forms of bottom stops.

In carrying out the invention, there are emplo ed two flexible stringers each consisting 0 a tape 1, or the like, adapted to be sewed or otherwise permanently attached along one edge to the opposite sides of a seam or opening. Along the opposite free edge of the stringer, the clasp members are secured, and these consist, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of sheet metal blanks doubled on themselves to define leaves or wings 4 which are forced byv pressure into clamping engagement with the webs of the stringers, being preferably corrugated, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to more securely clamp the leather or fabric. The upper and lower edges of the clasps are straight and parallel, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the clasps are arranged in staggered or alternating relation whereby each clasp on one stringer will fit closely between two clasps on the other stringer so that the clasp members will mutually reenforce and support each other. 1

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bend of the clasp member 2 is wide so that it defines an e e or sleeve 5 beyond the edge of the strln r, which eye or sleeve is open at top and Esttom. The bend of the clasp member 3 is narrow or compact and lugs or heads 6 are formed at the top and bottom of the bend which are adapted to enter the eyes presented thereto by the respectively superlposed and subjacent clasps 2, the upper ead engaging the lower end of the eye above and the lower-head engaging the upper end of the eye below. When thus engaged, each clasp on one stringer fits at its top and bottom edges squarely between and against two clasps on the other stringer so that a very secure closure will be attained.

To move the clasps into or out of engagement, a slide 7 is provided consisting of two stamped sides each having a V channel 8 in its inner face to engage the sides of the respective clas s and the edges of the stringers to which they are secured. If the slide be drawn upwardly, the spread portions of the seam or opening will be drawn together and, as they approach, the clasp members will assume the alternating interlocking positions illustrated. Movement ofthe slide in the opposite direction will, of course, disengage the clasps and open the closure.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5, are shown clasp members which are cast or malleable material instead of being stamped from sheet e these figures, the body 9 of the clasp member is formed with an open-ended slot 10 to receive the edge of the stringer tape, and the walls of the slot are preferably corrugated so that, if the body be compressed, the clasp will be very securely attached to the stringer. It will also be noted that the closed end of the slot is expanded, as at 11, to accommodate a bead hem or welt which is often produced along the edge of the tape.

In the form shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5,

the clasp bodies on one stringer are provided with T-heads at their free ends, the stem 12 of the T projecting from the body on the central longitudinal line thereof and the head 13 of the T lying transversely thereto. The cooperating clasps on the other stringer are each provided with a shank 14 projecting therefrom midway its top and bottom and upon the top and bottom of said shank at the corners thereof are lugs 15 which are spaced from each other and from the end of the body, as shown in Fig. 5. When these clasps are engaged, the lugs 15 enter between the heads 13 and the clasp bodies and at opposite sides of the stems 12, the heads 13 fitting closely between said lugs and the bodies carryin them. It will be readily noted that, as s own in Figure 3, each shank 14 is disposed between two heads 13 and. each head 13 engages two shanks 14 with the lugs thereon, a very positive and secure engagement between the clasp members being thus eflected. It will be noted that the lugs 15 are spaced from the main body of the claspmember so that on both top and bottom of said body there is an eye, recess, or socket receiving an end of the head 13 on a cooperating clasp member. Thus each clasp member engages and interlocks with both a superposed and a subjacent clasp member, the to and bottom of all the members being paral el with each other and at a right angle to the edge of the stringer. The heads and lugs are of angular configuration so' that the .clasps are effectually revented from rocking upon each other and the seam, when its sides are drawn together, will be completely closed and will present a smooth even appearance from end to end.

In Figure 6, the body 16 of the clasp member is essentially the same as the body shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, but it may be here noted that various designs for the slots are shown in these figures although they all present ridges or projections alternating with recesses or grooves whereby a crimping of the stringer tape will be effected. In Figure 6, a shank or stem 17 which is of less height as well as less width than the body projects from the end thereof and the same formation is provided on the clasps on both stringers. The top of the shank is spaced below the top of the body but the bottom of the shank is flush with the bot tom of the body. On each side of the shank at the outer or free end thereof is a rib 18 which projects above the shank to define a lug 19. When these clasps are in en agement, each shank 17 rests upon a shanr 17 below and extends between the lugs 19 of the subjacent shank, the lugs 19 fittin between the lower ends of the ribs 18 and the body of the superposed clasp.

Stops are provided to limit the movement of the slide in boththe opening and closing operations. Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a body 20 similar to the bodies 9 and 16 and adapted to be secured by compression upon the strin ers in the same manner as the bodies 9 an 16 are secured At the slotted end of this body, lugs 21 project therefrom so that, when the body is secured upon the stringer, the lugs will be in the path of the edge 22 of the slide, as shown in Figure 8, and will limit the upward closing'movement of the slide. In Figure 9, the clamp body 23 is the same as the body 20 but the lug 24 is at the closed end thereof and is lit) adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 25 on the central bod portion of the slide. In Figure 10, the liody 26 is provided with a shoulder 27 on its side to be engaged by the end of the side wall of the slide.

In Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are shown bridge the intervening space and thereby extend across the path of the slide. In Figure 12, bridging plates 29 and 30 are employed, the plate 30 being provided with slots 31 to receive tongues or spurs 32 extending from the plate 29 and bent down after aming through the slots.

In igure 13, the plates 33 and 34 bridge the space between the stringers, the plate 33 being formed with central notches 35 in its edges and the plate 34 having central tongues 36 which extend through the space and the notches and are bent down upon the plate 33 to clamp the two plates to the stringers. In Figure 14 is shown a onepiece stop consisting of the two lates 37, 38 of proper dimensions to span t e stringers and connected at their lower edges by a central web 39. A tongue 40 projects from the upper edge of the plate 38 to pass through a recess 41 in the upper edge of the plate 37 to be bent down against the latter and thereby clam the stop upon the stringers.

Having ful y described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a fastener, the combination of a pair of flexible stringers, series of interengaging clasp members carried by said stringers, a slide movable along the stringers to Ill effect engagement or disengagement of the clasp members, and a stop to limit the engaging movement of the slide and comprising a pair of plates bridging the space be tween the stringers, and a ton e on one plate engageable with the other plate to clamp the plates to the stringers.

2. A fastener comprising clasp members arranged in adjacent cooperating series, the members of one series having medial transverse shanks projecting therefrom with lugs on the top and bottom of the shanks at the corners thereof, and the members of the other series having medial longitudinal stems projecting therefrom to engage between the shanks of superposed and subjacent members of the first series and between the lugsthereon, and transverse heads at the ends of the longitudinal stems engaging behind the lugs and resting on and extending 20 across the transverse shanks.

3. Fastening means for separable members comprisin two stringers, a series of fastener units 0 amped to each strin r, a slider for interlocking the fastener umts of the respective stringers, a combined connector and slider stop permanently uniting the lower portions of the respective stringers, comprising two plates receivin material of the stringers between them an tongues on one plate embracing the other plate whereby said plates are permanent] clamped to the respective stringers, and a. stop for limiting the upward movement of the slider."

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

JOHN B. FREYSIN GER. 

